Four Kings 四大天王 - Reviews

We made reservations for 10 PM on Saturday, as it was the only time available. We attempted to walk in the night before around 6 PM, and they stated it would be a 1. 5-hour wait, so making a reservation is definitely recommended! We truly enjoyed our dinner. They started us with complimentary peanuts and cucumbers, which was a nice touch. We ordered the fragrant fish eggplant, lamb skewer, mapo spaghetti, deep-fried squab, and escargot with milk bread. Personally, I would skip the lamb skewer and mapo spaghetti next time; they didn’t particularly impress me. However, the rest of the food was absolutely delicious. The squab had incredibly crispy skin and very tender meat. The escargot was served in a delicious, spicy, garlicky oil that was perfect for soaking up with the milk bread. The eggplant was buttery and yummy. We concluded our meal with the mango pudding, which came with a really nice guava sorbet. Overall, we had a wonderful experience, even though we were initially worried the place might be overhyped. I believe it deserves the hype. The service was also excellent. Just be aware that the place is quite cramped and loud, but I think that contributes to the HK vibe they are aiming for. If there's one area for improvement, I'd suggest better ventilation in the kitchen to prevent smoke from traveling to the dining area.

My experience at the restaurant was okay, but it didn't live up to the hype. Most dishes were way too salty and seemed to use spicy oil sauce to cover up a lack of flavor. While I can see why some people might like it, if you have eaten a lot of authentic Cantonese food, this place is not it.

My experience at this restaurant was exceptional. The service was incredibly attentive, and the cuisine was both very unique and authentic. It's a must-have dining experience in San Francisco.

My experience at this restaurant was largely disappointing. We tried six dishes, and unfortunately, only the squab was enjoyable. The rabbit dish was overly breaded and greasy. The Mongolian beef noodles were excessively sweet with tough beef. The clay pot rice was quite basic, and I believe better noodle and rice dishes can be found at many other Chinese and dim sum spots in the Bay Area. The escargot, while an interesting concept with chili garlic oil, was far too salty. While I appreciate the vision of reinventing classic Hong Kong dishes, the execution felt confused. They struggled to get the basics right, and new interpretations like fried rabbit instead of fried chicken were a flop. With 5 out of 6 dishes missing the mark, the overall experience was not worth the price.

My experience at this restaurant was fantastic if you're an adventurous meat eater. The food truly rocks for those who enjoy exploring different meats. However, it's definitely not a great place for a vegetarian. The service, atmosphere, and food all received a perfect score of 5, indicating an overall excellent experience for the right diner.

My experience at this restaurant was fantastic! While they do accept walk-ins, making a reservation is highly recommended as it's a busy and not a big place. The service was very good, with plenty of staff ensuring things moved quickly, so we weren't left waiting long. We were a party of 4, which allowed us to try a variety of dishes. My personal favorites included the crab, Mongolian beef noodle, cauliflower, popcorn chicken, and green beans. The fried milk bread under the crab was particularly tasty! We will definitely be coming back!

I was fortunate to secure a last-minute reservation through OpenTable, which required quick action as soon as slots were released. For dinner, we ordered the salt and pepper shrimp, scallion chicken, lamb skewer, squab, clay pot rice, and mapo spaghetti. The squab was exceptionally good, comparable to roasted duck with incredibly crispy and juicy skin, and tender meat. My only wish was for a larger portion. I also thoroughly enjoyed the lamb skewer; the spices were wonderfully fragrant. The mapo spaghetti tasted as expected but didn't quite hit the mark for me, possibly due to the noodles being slightly undercooked. The remaining dishes were good but not outstanding, and I question if they justify the high price point. It's definitely worth a visit, but it's not a place I see myself frequenting regularly.

Based on one visit, I had high hopes for this restaurant, expecting it to live up to the hype. Unfortunately, it didn't quite meet my expectations. The nostalgic flavor of Hong Kong late-night food was somewhat watered down and missed the mark on the few dishes I ordered. However, the location and ambiance were on point. One suggestion for the menu would be to include the Chinese names of the dishes for authenticity. I plan to return for another try, and reservations are highly recommended.

My experience at this restaurant was a tale of two halves. The customer service was superb, earning a perfect 5/5. However, the food was not what I was expecting at all. As someone who grew up in Hong Kong and visits annually, I was excited about a new restaurant paying homage to 90s pop stars. The decor and HK collectibles were impressive, creating a great atmosphere. Unfortunately, the food fell far short of authentic Cantonese or good Chinese cuisine. Dishes were either drenched in spicy chili oil or excessively salty. The squab was so salty it was painful to eat, forcing us to order white rice to make it palatable. The menu descriptions were also misleading; the XO escargot lacked noticeable XO sauce, and the mango pudding was mostly honeydew sorbet. I left with elevated blood pressure and difficulty sleeping due to the overwhelming saltiness. This place might be acceptable for those seeking Americanized, saucy, salty Chinese food, but it's not for those expecting an elevated or creative take on traditional dishes.

I couldn’t find any restaurants open late at night and ended up at this cute, cozy spot. What immediately caught my attention was the thoughtful décor, with walls adorned by photos of famous Hong Kong artists, which gave the space a nostalgic and cultural touch. The atmosphere felt warm and inviting, making it the perfect spot to end my birthday night.